Limit stop for a door or lid of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A limit stop with an elastomer resilient element, which is to be secured on a door or lid and / or on an opposing stationary vehicle section for damping forces generated when the door or lid strikes stationary chassis parts of a motor vehicle. The limit stop includes an additional damping section disposed adjacent to and cooperating with the elastic resilient element in a spring deflection direction of the resilient element. The damping section comprises at least two chambers filled with a fluid and a nozzle plate arranged between the chambers with at least one channel extending through the nozzle plate and connecting the chambers. The fluid is displaced from one of the chambers into the other chamber during a spring deflection of the elastomer resilient element, thereby producing a pressure force which is caused by the buildup in pressure when the volume of one of the chambers decreases and augments the return force of the resilient element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 343,748, filed Jan. 31, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to a limit stop with an elastomer spring, for damping forces generated when a door or lid strike a stationary chassis part of a motor vehicle.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]To prevent clatter or damage to metal chassis parts or to the paint of motor vehicles, the area around the doors and lids, in particular the front hood and the trunk lid, typically includes means for damping the impact. In most situations, the impact from doors or lids closing on the respective chassis openings is dampened by a number of limit stops which are made of an elastomer material and arranged along the circumference of the opening. Suitable limit stops, frequently in the shape of the head of a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Unlike conventional solutions, the limit stop of the invention includes an additional damping section which is disposed adjacent to and cooperates with the elastic resilient element in its spring deflection direction. The damping section includes at least two chambers filled with a fluid and a nozzle plate arranged between the two chambers with at least one channel extending through the nozzle plate and connecting the chambers. The fluid is displaced from one of the chambers into the other chamber during a spring deflection of the elastomer resilient element by building up pressure which adds to the return force of the resilient element.

[0012]According to advantageous another embodiment, which takes into consideration the desired long operating life of the limit stop, means for atomizing the viscous fluid, which enters the lower chamber under pressure through the nozzle, are arranged above the equalizing bellow. This arrangement prevents premature damage to the equalizing bellow from the fluid entering the lower chamber under high pressure. For example, a baffle, which can optionally be constructed as a single piece with the nozzle plate, can be arranged in the region of the inner wall of the equalizing bellow delimiting the chamber.

Problems solved by technology

However, this document does not address the mechanical construction of the limit stop, but attempts to prevent accumulation of paint on limit stops which are already installed on the chassis when the vehicle is painted.

However, with the aforementioned conventional solutions, the spring characteristic of the buffers disadvantageously remains constant when the engine hood is closed, independent of the closing speed of the hood, so that the spring action is independent of the respective closing height of the hood.

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